Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a Nairobi-based venture studio,has raised $4.5 million in seed financing, one of the largest tourism-tech rounds in Africa, to accelerate its mission to transform the continent’s tourism industry into a global leader.
By building cutting-edge travel technology in Africa, PEV aims to create a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable tourism sector.
“This funding is a testament to the untapped potential in African tourism innovation,” said Ben Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Purple Elephant Ventures. “With this support, we’re poised to revolutionize the industry through groundbreaking travel technology in Africa, fostering economic growth while preserving the continent’s incredible natural and cultural heritage. The future of sustainable tourism in Africa has never been brighter.”
Unlocking the Future of Regenerative Tourism
The $4.5 million will enable PEV to scale its portfolio of startups and launch new ventures focused on addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges. As a pioneer in venture capital for tourism tech, PEV is paving the way for a thriving, regenerative, and technologically advanced African tourism ecosystem.
The round drew an impressive roster of investors, including Clear Creek Investment B.V, Klister Corp., Fede Pirzo-Biroli (founder of Playfair Capital), Anthony Rock and Ian McCaig (former CEO of Lastminute.com). This funding milestone underscores growing confidence in African travel tech startups and their role in reshaping the African startup ecosystem through impactful innovation.
Reimagining African Tourism Through Innovation
Emerging from the pandemic with a bold vision, PEV is focused on fostering tourism innovation that boosts biodiversity, creates sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and reduces the ecological footprint of travel. Through its innovative venture studio model, PEV is crafting hospitality SaaS solutions, sustainable procurement for tourism, and energy-efficient solutions for hospitality, setting a new standard for sustainable tourism in Africa.
In just a few years, PEV has launched five high-impact startups, each addressing critical gaps in the hospitality ecosystem:
- Nomad Africa – A travel discovery platform and Kenya’s leading travel publisherand local agency.
- Kijani Supplies –A procurement tech company specializing in eco-friendly supplies for the hospitality industry.
- Zafari –A revolutionary booking platform for African hospitality, streamlining operations for tourism operators.
- PowerTrip –A cleantech company delivering energy-efficient appliances tohospitality businesses.
- JOIN Africa –A venture supporting safari guides, created in partnership with Paul English, co-founder of Kayak.
Unlike traditional venture studios, PEV retains control and self-funds its startups, ensuring alignment with its long-term mission to advance tourism innovation funding and deliver transformative impact across Africa.